The surrounding spectators were all struck speechless. Since the assessment began, dozens of people had taken part, but none had ever been as relaxed as Fang Qingxue.
"So impressive."
"Who is that woman? Her swordsmanship is so fierce."
"Swordsmanship is only one aspect. Look at her cultivation—she is actually two realms above me, having reached the seventh stage of the physical body, the Internal Fortification Realm. What incredible talent."
"I know her. Fang Qingxue of the Fang Family in Dragon Abyss Province, Great Li Dynasty."
Even the three examiners smiled at Fang Qingxue.
"Hmm? Why hasn't Qing Xue come out yet?" Shen Ruolan asked in confusion.
After defeating the Divine Strength Puppet, Fang Qingxue did not leave the circle of light. Instead, she stood there with her eyes closed.
Her blood and qi surged throughout her body, while a sharp, imposing aura flickered around her.
"She is breaking through?" one of the examiners said, his eyes lighting up.
"Indeed. A fine seedling. She was actually able to break through after a battle. Before long, our Yuhua Sect may gain another Inner Sect Disciple. I wonder whether she can step into the Mystic Divine Realm and seek her true self."
"What harm is there in waiting for her a while?"
Faced with such a promising talent, the three examiners were naturally willing to make things convenient and form a good connection.
The crowd stirred upon hearing that Fang Qingxue was breaking through. Zhang Yuzhen, standing among them, was also stunned, forcibly suppressing the desire in his heart despite his unwillingness.
"This woman has even greater talent than I do. Now that she has entered the Divine Courage Realm, I cannot provoke her. How unwilling I am!"
Though Zhang Yuzhen preyed upon men and women alike, his greatest virtue was knowing his limits. The women he had taken by force were either beneath him in status or weaker than him in cultivation.
Whenever there was even one aspect in which they surpassed him, no matter how unwilling he was, he would force down the desire in his heart.
Shen Hao sighed. "Wonderful. Qing Xue truly is a once-in-a-century genius of Great Li. I cannot compare to her."
A deep sense of defeat rose within Shen Ruolan. Since childhood, she had heard of Fang Qingxue's genius. She had thought that, as an imperial princess with endless resources, she could catch up through hard work. Yet she had never expected the distance between them to grow greater and greater. Now Fang Qingxue had broken into the Divine Courage Realm, while she herself was still lingering in the Divine Strength Realm.
The gap was simply too vast.
A moment later, Fang Qingxue withdrew her aura and suddenly opened her eyes. Feeling the power within her body, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
She bowed to the three examiners, then slowly stepped away.
The three examiners returned her smile.
"Next."
Fang Xuan said, "I'll go."
With that, he clenched his fists and strode toward the circle of light in the center of the hall.
"Hmm? You aren't using a weapon?"
The examiner was slightly taken aback when he saw Fang Xuan's empty hands.
Fang Xuan grinned. "No need. These fists are enough."
"You have courage. Release the demon."
BOOM!
The doors flew open, and the Divine Strength Puppet roared as it charged out. A black shadow flashed, and a massive green fist whistled through the air toward Fang Xuan's head.
Shen Ruolan turned pale. "This is bad! Fang Xuan is being far too reckless. That is a Divine Strength Puppet!"
Shen Hao said gravely, "How could Fang Xuan be so unwise? Divine Strength Puppets are made from Underground Demons. Their physical bodies are far stronger than ours at the same realm."
"It's fine. Believe in him," Fang Qingxue said confidently.
In the center of the circle, Fang Xuan faced the charging Divine Strength Puppet by gathering all the strength in his body and meeting it head-on with a punch.
BOOM!
The collision exploded, and the air burst between their fists. The deafening sound echoed through the entire hall.
Fang Xuan stood as immovable as mountains and rivers, while the Divine Strength Puppet was sent flying backward, crashing into the circle of light behind it with a violent tremor.
Even the three examiners were stunned by that punch. After presiding over assessments for so many years, they had seen every possible method of dealing with the puppet, but never had they seen someone suppress a Divine Strength Puppet purely through brute force.
Fang Xuan grinned and rushed forward. The Divine Strength Puppet quickly climbed to its feet after being knocked away and pounced again.
Fang Xuan did not dodge either. He simply threw another punch, smashing it hard into the puppet's waist.
BANG!
With a sharp crack, the area beneath the Divine Strength Puppet's ribs suddenly caved in, and snow-white ribs pierced through its skin along with blood.
"Again!"
Fang Xuan roared, his fists like a gale. He used no technique at all, relying solely on overwhelming strength to batter the Divine Strength Puppet without mercy.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
After entering the Internal Fortification Realm, Fang Xuan possessed the strength of seven horses—seven thousand jin of Divine Power. One had to know that even Fang Qingxue, who had entered the Divine Courage Realm, could not match him in sheer strength.
That was the power of a solid foundation.
At that moment, Fang Xuan was like an invincible war god who would never fall. His stamina seemed endless and profound; the more he fought, the more spirited he became, and the stronger he grew.
"He... what kind of monster is he? Am... am I dreaming?"
"You're not dreaming. I saw it too. He is actually hammering the Divine Strength Puppet into submission. How is that possible?"
"Could he be some demon in human form? Otherwise, how could he possess such terrifying strength?"
The disciples taking the Outer Sect assessment were all left dumbfounded.
The three examiners were equally shocked, their faces filled with disbelief.
"He cannot be a demon. If he were, he could never enter our Immortal Feather Sect," one examiner said, shaking his head.
"Could this Fang Xuan have cultivated some martial art that made his body, tendons, and bones so formidable?"
"Most likely. I have never seen anyone suppress a Divine Strength Puppet through sheer strength."
As they spoke, Fang Xuan stomped his foot and forcibly seized the Divine Strength Puppet, lifting it into the air.
"Die."
RIP!
Amid a tearing sound, the Divine Strength Puppet was ripped in half at the waist by Fang Xuan before everyone's shocked eyes.
The three examiners looked at one another, unable to hide the astonishment in their eyes.
"Passed."
Fang Xuan wiped the demon blood from his face and walked out of the circle. Shen Hao immediately raised a thumbs-up.
"Brother Fang's Divine Power is unmatched. I am truly impressed."
Shen Ruolan looked at Fang Xuan as if he were a monster. She even reached out and lightly poked his body several times with one finger.
Fang Qingxue's expression did not change. "Your strength has increased again."
"Not bad."
He had used no weapon, forcibly pinned down the Divine Strength Puppet and hammered it, then finally torn it into two pieces. Every disciple taking the Outer Sect Disciple assessment was deeply impressed by Fang Xuan. He was simply too fierce and domineering, and the toughness of his body was beyond comprehension.
Several Outer Sect Disciples who had already passed the assessment walked over.
"I am Tie Kaicheng, son of the Mountain Suppressing Marquis of the Great De Dynasty. Your Divine Power is truly formidable."
"I am Shan Baofeng of the Great Xu Dynasty. May I ask your name? How about we become friends?"
"I am..."
"I am..."
These people were clearly disciples of influential clans and aristocratic families, all skilled at recruiting talent. Moreover, after becoming Outer Sect Disciples, they would face all kinds of competition every year—far bloodier and more naked than the imperial court.
With Fang Xuan displaying such strength, he naturally became someone they wished to recruit.
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